# Self-esteem as a mediator between perfectionism and mental health outcomes

## TL;DR

This study shows that self-esteem connects perfectionism to mental health outcomes, suggesting it could be a target for therapy.

## Contribution

The study reveals that self-esteem mediates both negative and positive mental health outcomes linked to perfectionism.

## Key findings

- Higher perfectionistic concerns lead to more psychological distress through low self-esteem.
- Higher perfectionistic strivings lead to more flourishing through high self-esteem.
- Self-esteem acts as a protective or risk factor in perfectionism's impact on mental health.

## Abstract

In line with the Two Continua Model of Mental Health, this study investigated whether self-esteem (SE) mediates the relationship between two dimensions of perfectionism (perfectionistic concerns (PC) and perfectionistic strivings (PS)) and negative and positive mental health outcomes, including psychological distress (PD) and flourishing (F).

Participants (N = 162; 121 females, 36 males, 4 non-binary, and 1 not disclosed) aged 18 to 90 (M = 31.57, SD = 15.75) completed an online survey containing five measures.

There was a significant positive indirect effect between PC and PD through SE (b = 0.39, p < .001, 95% CI [0.27, 0.51]) and between PS and F through SE (b = 0.14, p = .004, 95% CI [0.05, 0.24]). There was a significant negative indirect effect between PC and F through SE (b = −0.48, p < .001, 95% CI [−0.62, −0.35]) and between PS and PD through SE (b = -0.12, p = .004, 95% CI [−0.20, −0.04]).

Findings support the utility of the Two Continua Model, contribute to literature on the relationship between perfectionism and mental health outcomes, and highlight the potential utility of exploring therapeutic interventions to target self-esteem for individuals high in perfectionism.

What is already known about this topic:
PC has been consistently linked to negative mental health outcomes.PS has been inconsistently linked with negative and positive mental health outcomes.Self-esteem mediates the relationship between variables that are similar to perfectionism and negative mental health outcomes.

PC has been consistently linked to negative mental health outcomes.

PS has been inconsistently linked with negative and positive mental health outcomes.

Self-esteem mediates the relationship between variables that are similar to perfectionism and negative mental health outcomes.

What this topic adds:
Self-esteem mediated the relationship between higher PC and higher psychological distress and lower flourishing.Self-esteem mediated the relationship between higher PS and lower psychological distress and higher flourishing.Lower or higher self-esteem may be a risk or protective factor, respectively, in the relationship between perfectionism and mental health outcomes.

Self-esteem mediated the relationship between higher PC and higher psychological distress and lower flourishing.

Self-esteem mediated the relationship between higher PS and lower psychological distress and higher flourishing.

Lower or higher self-esteem may be a risk or protective factor, respectively, in the relationship between perfectionism and mental health outcomes.